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Dispelling Myths About Nasal Allergies
Nasal allergies can sometimes be hard to understand, and even harder to explain. For this reason, you may have heard several myths about nasal allergies. Understanding the facts about nasal allergies will help you to better understand and take care of your symptoms.
Myth #1, Hay Fever is really caused by hay.
Nasal allergies are often referred to as hay fever, even though they may have nothing to do with hay. Also, they do not cause a fever. This myth most likely started because allergy season begins during hay harvesting season in many areas.
Myth #2, Moving is a good way to cure allergies.
You may think that seasonal nasal allergies will disappear if you move to a different climate. While the place you move to may not have the tree, weed, or grass that you’re allergic to, it may have other types of pollen or mold. You may develop a sensitivity to these other pollens and molds over time.
Myth #3, Allergies are all in your head.
Allergies are a real medical condition that affects the immune system. Emotional stress may worsen symptoms, but allergies are not caused by emotions.
Myth #4, Short-haired pets are better than long-haired pets.
If you are allergic to cats or dogs, you are allergic to the saliva, urine, or dander (skin scales), not the hair. The best way to relieve symptoms is to keep the pet out of your bedroom, and out of the house when possible.
Myth #5, Allergies are harmless.
Allergies are a serious problem and should be treated that way. If left untreated, nasal allergies can lead to other serious complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one particular season that’s worse for sneezing?
Not really. In spring, trees and flowers pollinate sending millions of pollen grains into the air. Summertime is the grass and weed pollen season. And, in fall, those with allergies may react to both ragweed and mold. Winter signals the onset of the indoor allergy season. The most common indoor nasal allergens are dust mite and cockroach droppings, mold, and animal dander.
Why do you feel better on some days rather than others?
There is a reason for that. Weather conditions make a difference in the amount of pollen and mold spores that are airborne at any one time. On those hot, dry, windy days of summer, pollen and mold particles are plentiful, meaning allergy sufferers suffer more. If you’re an allergy sufferer, you’ll probably feel better on rainy, cloudy, still days when pollen does not move around as much.
Do you know what plants, trees grasses, and weeds to watch out for?
Unfortunately, there are thousands of things that produce airborne allergies. Pollens can travel 2 miles high and as far as 300 miles, but some pollens are more easily carried off in the air than others.
What is the pollen count?
If you are an avid watcher of the Weather Channel, you could be checking the pollen count. A pollen count measures the number of pollen grains per cubic meter of air collected during a specific time period. A pollen count reported today, however, is an estimate based upon the pollen in the air yesterday. Pollen counts are generally higher on hot, sunny days. The higher the pollen count, the worse a seasonal allergy sufferer will feel.
Did you know there is a fungus among us?
There is and it’s called mold. Molds, plants in the fungus family, grow anywhere it’s dark and moist. That can mean on rotting logs, in piles of fallen leaves or compost piles, and on certain grasses, weeds, and grains. They even grow inside your home. An- don’t look now- mold loves shower stalls, refrigerators, houseplants, air conditioners, garbage cans, and mattresses.
What are dust mites?
OK. So you don’t see any bugs crawling around on your covers, but they’re there! Dust mites are microscopic insects that live in house dust, under mattresses, and deep down in carpeting. They feed on dead human skin scales and inhaling their waste products is what causes an allergic reaction.
What about my pet?
You love your dog or cat like they’re part of the family, but your pets could be making you sick. Animals with hair or feathers are a common source of allergic reactions. What causes the problem is animal dander (tiny particles animals shed), the saliva on fur he’s licked and shed, and his urine after it dries and particles become airborne. Allergies to animals could take 2 years, or even longer, to develop and may not end until 6 or more months after your pet has moved on to greener pastures.
What’s in the air and how can I avoid it?
The best way to prevent an allergy attack is to stay away from the substance that triggers a reaction. But you can’t really eliminate pollen and other airborne allergens from your life altogether. Do what you can to avoid the things that make your allergies flare, take your allergy medication and help your doctor monitor you condition by visiting his office regularly.
Simple Solutions to Reduce or Eliminate Allergens
The best way for you to avoid the signs and symptoms of allergies in your own home is to avoid exposure to the allergens (dust mites, mold, pollen, and pet allergen) that cause problems. Effective environmental control can reduce or eliminate the need for medicine.
Pets
Pets are like members of the family, but the tiny flakes of dried skin they shed could be triggering your nasal allergies. In addition to these flakes, or dander, some people are also sensitive to the saliva, urine and blood of their pets. What if you can’t part with your best friend? You might not have to. Here are some measures that you can take to lessen your chances of an allergy attack.
Tips
Dust Mites
You can’t see them. You can’t hear them, but there are tiny critters living in your house dust that could be stirring up trouble for you if you’re an allergy suffer. Dust mites are the most common cause of perennial (year-round) allergies. Some 20 million people in the US are allergic to dust mites. Dust mites are the little creatures that feed off flakes of human skin, live deep down in carpets, furniture and bedding. Dust mites are less than a third of a millimeter in length. Their waste products when inhaled by sensitive people, can cause an allergic reactions similar to those caused by pollen.
Isn’t dust just dust?
Household dust is a conglomeration of many different things- fabric fibers, pet dander, food particles, plant and insect parts, mold and fungus spores, and dust mites and their waste products. A protein in dust mites’ waste products is what can cause an allergic reaction.
What can I do to eliminate or reduce the amount of dust mites and dust in my home?
Tips
Mold
Mold is one of the four most common allergic triggers, especially in humid areas. Avoiding exposure to mold spores is central to effective treatment. High humidity promotes growth of mold spores in places such as damp basements, closets, refrigerator drip pans, air conditioners, garbage pails, and shower stalls. For many allergy sufferers, mold allergies are a problem throughout the year. Molds reproduce by releasing “spores” into the air. They thrive in damp, dark places and are often found in soil, growing on vegetation, or in piles of fallen leaves.
Here are a few tips for limiting your exposure to this common allergy instigator:
Tips
Pollen
There are 35.0 million people who are allergic to pollen. Avoiding exposure to pollen is central to effective treatment.
Tips
Traveling with Nasal Allergies
Who wants to wake up to a runny, stuffy nose or sneezing on vacation? You should not have to deal with nasal allergies when you travel, and to help make your vacation a pleasant time for you and you family, here are some important travel tips to keep in mind.
Tips
NOTE: Many of the same steps apply to reducing airborne irritants including tobacco smoke, fuel particles and chemicals, such as using a HEPA air filter, but there are different approaches for detection and avoidance.
Sinusitis
Have you ever had a cold or allergy attack that wouldn’t go away? If so, there’s a good chance you actually had sinusitis. Experts estimate that 37 million people are afflicted with sinusitis each year, making it one of the most common health conditions in America. That number may be significantly higher, since the symptoms of bacterial sinusitis often mimic those of colds or allergies, and many sufferers never see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic.
What is sinusitis?
Acute bacterial sinusitis is an infection of the sinus cavities caused by bacteria. It usually is preceded by a cold, allergy attack, or irritation by environmental pollutants. Unlike a cold, or allergy, bacterial sinusitis requires a physician’s diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic to cure the infection and prevent future complications.
Normally, mucus collecting in the sinuses drains into the nasal passages. When you have a cold or allergy attack, your sinuses become inflamed and are unable to drain. This can lead to congestion and infection. Diagnosis of acute sinusitis usually is based on a physical examination and a discussion of your symptoms. Your doctor also may use x-rays of your sinuses or obtain a sample of your nasal discharge to test for bacteria.
When Acute Becomes Chronic Sinusitis
When you have frequent sinusitis, or the infection lasts three months or more, it could be chronic sinusitis. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis may be less severe than those of acute; however, untreated chronic sinusitis can cause damage to the sinuses and cheekbones that sometimes requires surgery to repair.
Treating Sinusitis
Bacterial sinusitis: Therapy for bacterial sinusitis should include an appropriate antibiotic. If you have three or more symptoms of sinusitis (see chart), be sure to see your doctor for diagnosis. In addition to an antibiotic, an oral or nasal spray or drop decongestant may be recommended to relieve congestion, although you should avoid prolonged use of nonprescription nasal sprays or drops. Inhaling steam or using saline nasal sprays or drops can help relieve sinus discomfort.
Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance means that some infection-causing bacteria are immune to the effects of certain antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Antibiotic resistance is making even common infections, such as sinusitis, challenging to treat. You can help prevent antibiotic resistance. If the doctor prescribes an antibiotic, it is important that you take all of the medication just as your doctor instructs, even if your symptoms are gone before the medicine runs out.
Chronic Sinusitis
If your doctor thinks you have chronic sinusitis, intensive antibiotic therapy may be prescribed. Surgery is sometimes necessary to remove physical obstructions that may contribute to sinusitis.
Sinus Surgery
Surgery should be considered only if medical treatment fails or if there is a nasal obstruction that cannot be corrected with medications. The type of surgery is chosen to best suit the patient and the disease. Surgery can be performed under the upper lip, behind the eyebrow, next to the nose or scalp, or inside the nose itself.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is recommended for certain types of sinus disease. With the endoscope, the surgeon can look directly into the nose, while at the same time, removing diseased tissue and polyps and clearing the narrow channels between the sinuses. The decision whether to use local or general anesthesia will be made between you and your doctor, depending on your individual circumstances.
Before surgery, be sure that you have realistic expectations for the results, recovery, and postoperative care. Good results require not only good surgical techniques, but a cooperative effort between the patient and physician throughout the healing process. It is equally important for patients to follow pre- and postoperative instructions.
Preventing Sinusitis
As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To avoid developing sinusitis during a cold or allergy attack, keep your sinuses clear by:
Allergy testing, followed by appropriate allergy treatments, may increase your tolerance of allergy-causing substances. If you believe you may have sinusitis, see our tips for sinusitis sufferers.
When to See a Doctor
Because the symptoms of sinusitis sometimes mimic those of colds and allergies, you may not realize you need to see a doctor. If you suspect you have sinusitis, review these signs and symptoms. If you suffer from three or more, you should see your doctor.
Sign/Symptom | Sinusitis | Allergy | Cold |
---|---|---|---|
Facial Pressure/Pain | Yes | Sometimes | Sometimes |
Duration of Illness | Over 10-14 days | Varies | Under 10 days |
Nasal Discharge | Thick, yellow-green | Clear, thin, watery | Thick, whitish or thin |
Fever | Sometimes | No | Sometimes |
Headache | Sometimes | Sometimes | Sometimes |
Pain in Upper Teeth | Sometimes | No | No |
Bad Breath | Sometimes | No | No |
Coughing | Sometimes | Sometimes | Yes |
Nasal Congestion | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
Sneezing | No | Sometimes | Yes |
A Word about Children
Your child’s sinuses are not fully developed until age 20. However, children can still suffer from sinus infection. Although small, the maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth. Sinusitis is difficult to diagnose in children because respiratory infections are more frequent, and symptoms can be subtle. Unlike a cold or allergy, bacterial sinusitis requires a physician’s diagnosis and treatment with an antibiotic to prevent future complications.
The following symptoms may indicate a sinus infection in your child:

If despite appropriate medical therapy these symptoms persist, care should be taken to seek an underlying cause. The role of allergy and frequent upper respiratory infections should be considered.
How Allergies Affect Your Child’s Health
Your child has been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, a physiological response to specific allergens such as pet dander or ragweed. The symptoms are fairly simple — a runny nose (rhinitis), watery eyes, and some periodic sneezing. The best solution is to administer over-the-counter antihistamine, and the problem will resolve on its own ….right?
Not really – the interrelated structures of the ears, nose, and throat can cause certain medical problems which trigger additional disorders – all with the possibility of serious consequences.
Simple hay fever can lead to long term problems in swallowing, sleeping, hearing, and breathing. Let’s see what else can happen to a child with a case of hay fever.
Enlarged turbinates and nasal congestion can also contribute to headaches and sleep disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, because the nasal airway is the normal breathing route during sleep. Once turbinate enlargement becomes chronic, it is irreversible except with surgical intervention.

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